UK100 launches charter for greater collaboration
Local leaders have called for greater collaboration to deliver on the UK’s clean energy mission at a recent summit and through a new report.
The UK100 Local Leaders: Clean Energy Superpower Summit in London brought together national and local government representatives alongside community and national energy sector leaders to accelerate the clean energy rollout.
It saw the launch of the “Local Net Zero 2.0: The Moment To Deliver” report and a local-national Charter of Collaboration between local and national government.
Among the recommendation in the report and reflected in the Charter are:
- Making it a strategic priority for Skills England to support the development of the construction industry to deliver Net Zero homes.
- Implementing a national framework for Local Area Energy Planning (LAEP), backed by dedicated funding from Great British Energy.
- Removing planning barriers for renewables and new technologies to accelerate deployment.
- Developing a collaborative grid expansion plan that prioritises local community engagement and benefit.
- Reforming social housing retrofit funds to catalyse sector-wide transformation.
Speakers and collaborators at the event included Tom Hayes MP, National Mission Champion for Energy; Mete Coban, Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy; and Emma Pinchbeck, who, as reported in T+E, has just been announced as the new Chief Executive of the Climate Change Committee.
The Charter is open for local leaders to sign and to align efforts and create partnerships in the clean energy transition. It aims to address the daunting energy challenges revealed in the Local Net Zero 2.0 report, including electricity demand set to surge 64% by 2035, a need to triple onshore wind and quintuple solar capacity, and renewable projects facing up to 15-year grid connection delays.
Signatory Cllr Dan De’Ath, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Strategic Planning & Transport, Cardiff Council, said the charter was a “fundamental opportunity” to tackle the barriers to accelerating clean energy delivery across government.
Christopher Hammond, Chief Executive of UK100, said:
“Decarbonising the grid will be the biggest infrastructure investment in the UK since the Second World War. It may be disruptive, but it doesn’t have to be destructive.
“The role of local authorities and their recognition as invaluable partners is continually growing in the energy sector. Local, smart and decentralised grids can’t be done without the efforts of local leaders and the buy-in of the residents they serve. But local leaders can’t win support for these projects on goodwill alone. Communities that host infrastructure need a share in the economic return.”
“We need to move beyond simplistic NIMBY or YIMBY frames — which will only feed polarisation in charged times. There are those waiting in the wings, ready to weaponise frustrations for political gain.”
Emma Pinchbeck, current Chief Executive of Energy UK and future CCC chair, said:
“We need to build around five times the amount of infrastructure over the next seven years as we have built in the previous three decades. We need to grow the power sector two to three times by 2050 and that is because we’re expecting consumers to be using electric vehicles, to be using heat pumps.”
“We are going to need to build some pylons. We are going to have to build some pylons in places where people don’t want pylons. We’re going to need to put them in the right places, of course. We’re going to need to minimise the amount of building we do, being as efficient as possible. We’re going to need to think about community benefits because the fact is that some communities will host more of this construction than others.”
Tom Hayes MP, National Mission Champion for Energy, said:
“As a former local climate leader, I’ve seen firsthand how crucial local authorities are in delivering the clean energy transition. Our ambitious goal to make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030 will be delivered faster and more successfully if we do it hand-in-hand with local leaders.
“They have the on-the-ground knowledge and community relationships needed to drive rapid change. We are committed to ensuring national ambitions and local delivery are fully aligned.”
Mete Coban, Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy, said:
“The UK100 summit has been an invaluable platform to share insights, align our strategies, and strengthen partnerships with local leaders from across the UK. The Mayor and I are eager to continue working to build a greener, fairer, and more sustainable future for all Londoners.”
The summit also saw the launch of UK100 and Involve UK’s new “Inclusive Climate Action: A Toolkit for Effective Public Engagement in Decision-Making” report on public engagement in climate action.
Steph Draper, Director of Innovation and Practice at Involve UK, said:
“Our research shows that when done well, participatory approaches not only lead to better clean energy outcomes but also empower residents to become active partners in the transition.”
Image courtesy of UK100
